Moms of boys....

[Anonymous]

I have a boy and a girl. No way do I ever let either of them use language that insults an entire sex.

That's exactly what this is, OP. Good for you for stopping it in its tracks. Being a girl or like a girl is NOT an insult. It is oppressive to men and boys as well as to girls and women to think that way.

I'm proud of the many PPs who chimed in that this behavior is not okay, too.

(P.S. I have a PhD in Chemistry, and I went to the quarter-finals in my martial art at the olympics. Apparently that matters to some PPs in terms of my credibility!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not just an insult to girls, at it's heart, when a boy is accused of playing like a girl, crying like a girl, being a momma's boy, etc., it's shaming him for having qualities that are perceived as feminine (not being good at sports, being sensitive, being affectionate with family). These kind of statements are inherently misogynistic and homophobic. And then we wonder why men can't express their feelings as adults or feel like they have to posture as macho men. So it's about boys and girls and what roles we allow them to fill or not fill.

There are ways to correct or teach others' kids without appearing as Joey's killjoy feminist mother. I.e., watch me throw the ball Joey and friends, pretty good for a girl, hah. You can use a sense of humor or touch base with your kid later and discuss it. It doesn't have to be a call out in the middle of the field.

The PP's using the old politically correct, college campus, lighten up excuses are not saying anything new.

+1,000,000

This PP really gets it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG. I am 45 and I played competitive soccer. I beat all the boys in the Presidential Fitness thing---in every event. I played Division 1 soccer. Though--I liked make-up and fashion. I had an older brother and a sister.

AND...I'm the first one to use the 'cry like a girl', etc. I don't even think about it when I say it...or the irony that I am female. I guess growing up it was an insult to be told that but if you were a gifted athlete nobody would ever accuse of doing anything like a girl. In fact, I was told I don't 'run like a girl' and I took great pride in that growing up.

I have 5 nephews (teens and 20s) and I have two boys myself. My nephews would tell my boys 'not to be a momma's boy' if they cried over something.

Frankly, I personally HATED that television ad with the 'run like a girl', 'throw like a girl' because I think they should have used top women athletes..not girls that couldn't run. My kids and I busted out laughing at one of the girls because she had the worst running form ever.

I like being a woman. But- I don't go around looking for something to take 'offense' at constantly.

When even Jerry Seinfeld finds college campuses too liberal and politically correct---it is time America lightens the f*ck up!!

It's a shame you were or are a gifted athlete, but not very self aware or bright.

Give me a break. I have a PhD in Biochemistry so I guarantee I am brighter than you.

I also have no shame in admitting that the women's World Cup is not as exciting as the Men's. The game is so much slower. The skill and athleticism isn't the same.

I don't think voicing that in any way takes away my enjoyment of playing the sport at a level only 1% of girls in the world ever get a chance to do.

Get over yourselves, Sisters.

Ah. Now I get it. You're one of those women who takes pride in only having male friends, not relating to women, thinking like a man, throwing like a man ... while being gorgeous and feminine and cooking well, etc.. In other words, you think women are pretty awful, and you're the exception, because where it counts, you're 1) like a man, and 2) men think you're the shit. That, my friends, is self-loathing and misogyny in a nutshell.

I have a PhD, too, btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are overly sensitive. I was a tomboy growing up. I played basketball with the boys in the neighborhood. And I played safety and wide receiver on an all woman's football team in Arlington. I tell my son all the time to stop crying or acting like a weak little girl when he doesn't want to do something.

Whatever. OP correct your child, but don't use your PC to correct my child. You do not have my permission on this score. And if you do it without my permission, expect reciprocity with your kids in areas that you disagree.

No worries. I'm sure we're not friends.

Haha. As if that's a loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are overly sensitive. I was a tomboy growing up. I played basketball with the boys in the neighborhood. And I played safety and wide receiver on an all woman's football team in Arlington. I tell my son all the time to stop crying or acting like a weak little girl when he doesn't want to do something.

Whatever. OP correct your child, but don't use your PC to correct my child. You do not have my permission on this score. And if you do it without my permission, expect reciprocity with your kids in areas that you disagree.

Why do you tell your son to stop crying/acting like a weak little girl? He is not a girl. Why not tell him to stop crying/acting like a weak little boy?

Because I have found it more effective when getting my point across. He used to always talk about the girls crying and whining at play time over the smallest of things. So, I took something that he found silly and use(d) it as a motivating factor. It hasn't always worked, but the majority of the time it has hit its mark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG. I am 45 and I played competitive soccer. I beat all the boys in the Presidential Fitness thing---in every event. I played Division 1 soccer. Though--I liked make-up and fashion. I had an older brother and a sister.

AND...I'm the first one to use the 'cry like a girl', etc. I don't even think about it when I say it...or the irony that I am female. I guess growing up it was an insult to be told that but if you were a gifted athlete nobody would ever accuse of doing anything like a girl. In fact, I was told I don't 'run like a girl' and I took great pride in that growing up.

I have 5 nephews (teens and 20s) and I have two boys myself. My nephews would tell my boys 'not to be a momma's boy' if they cried over something.

Frankly, I personally HATED that television ad with the 'run like a girl', 'throw like a girl' because I think they should have used top women athletes..not girls that couldn't run. My kids and I busted out laughing at one of the girls because she had the worst running form ever.

I like being a woman. But- I don't go around looking for something to take 'offense' at constantly.

When even Jerry Seinfeld finds college campuses too liberal and politically correct---it is time America lightens the f*ck up!!

It's a shame you were or are a gifted athlete, but not very self aware or bright.

Give me a break. I have a PhD in Biochemistry so I guarantee I am brighter than you.

I also have no shame in admitting that the women's World Cup is not as exciting as the Men's. The game is so much slower. The skill and athleticism isn't the same.

I don't think voicing that in any way takes away my enjoyment of playing the sport at a level only 1% of girls in the world ever get a chance to do.

Get over yourselves, Sisters.

Ah. Now I get it. You're one of those women who takes pride in only having male friends, not relating to women, thinking like a man, throwing like a man ... while being gorgeous and feminine and cooking well, etc.. In other words, you think women are pretty awful, and you're the exception, because where it counts, you're 1) like a man, and 2) men think you're the shit. That, my friends, is self-loathing and misogyny in a nutshell.

I have a PhD, too, btw.

Agree with the above PP. You are a messed-up individual, misogynist PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are overly sensitive. I was a tomboy growing up. I played basketball with the boys in the neighborhood. And I played safety and wide receiver on an all woman's football team in Arlington. I tell my son all the time to stop crying or acting like a weak little girl when he doesn't want to do something.

Whatever. OP correct your child, but don't use your PC to correct my child. You do not have my permission on this score. And if you do it without my permission, expect reciprocity with your kids in areas that you disagree.

Why do you tell your son to stop crying/acting like a weak little girl? He is not a girl. Why not tell him to stop crying/acting like a weak little boy?

Because I have found it more effective when getting my point across. He used to always talk about the girls crying and whining at play time over the smallest of things. So, I took something that he found silly and use(d) it as a motivating factor. It hasn't always worked, but the majority of the time it has hit its mark.

Aha. So he already had a low opinion of girls, and you use that, because it works to get him to do what you want, sometimes. Why didn't I think of that?

[Anonymous]

I really think this is overblown. I agree with a PP that I don't want or need your correcting my child for using language like this.

- another woman with a PhD

[Anonymous]

How about this, then?

"Son, stop being a misogynist dumbass like PP's son."

[Anonymous]

OP here. It has been interesting to read through all the responses! Not at all surprised it turned into name-calling.

I'm going to keep correcting my sons. I'll also correct other children who use that language in my house. I'll just stick with "Hey - we don't say this in our house." My house, my rules. If the other boys (or their parents) have problems with that, they can play somewhere else.

It did make me stop and think re: PP's comment about Redskins. As you can probably guess, I do dislike that term immensely... and I think it is embarrassing that the name hasn't been changed yet. We don't buy anything with that logo on it, yet it never dawned on me to say something to others who are wearing it. I wonder what this says about me?

[Anonymous]

Ugh. My husband uses that expression and it annoys me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It has been interesting to read through all the responses! Not at all surprised it turned into name-calling.

I'm going to keep correcting my sons. I'll also correct other children who use that language in my house. I'll just stick with "Hey - we don't say this in our house." My house, my rules. If the other boys (or their parents) have problems with that, they can play somewhere else.

It did make me stop and think re: PP's comment about Redskins. As you can probably guess, I do dislike that term immensely... and I think it is embarrassing that the name hasn't been changed yet. We don't buy anything with that logo on it, yet it never dawned on me to say something to others who are wearing it. I wonder what this says about me?

It says that you have the sense and maturity to realize that you are not captain of the Morality Police and that reasonable people can disagree on this issue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It has been interesting to read through all the responses! Not at all surprised it turned into name-calling.

I'm going to keep correcting my sons. I'll also correct other children who use that language in my house. I'll just stick with "Hey - we don't say this in our house." My house, my rules. If the other boys (or their parents) have problems with that, they can play somewhere else.

It did make me stop and think re: PP's comment about Redskins. As you can probably guess, I do dislike that term immensely... and I think it is embarrassing that the name hasn't been changed yet. We don't buy anything with that logo on it, yet it never dawned on me to say something to others who are wearing it. I wonder what this says about me?

It says that you have the sense and maturity to realize that you are not captain of the Morality Police and that reasonable people can disagree on this issue

On the Redskins? Or that people who use "like a girl" as an insult or way to shame others can also be reasonable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It has been interesting to read through all the responses! Not at all surprised it turned into name-calling.

I'm going to keep correcting my sons. I'll also correct other children who use that language in my house. I'll just stick with "Hey - we don't say this in our house." My house, my rules. If the other boys (or their parents) have problems with that, they can play somewhere else.

It did make me stop and think re: PP's comment about Redskins. As you can probably guess, I do dislike that term immensely... and I think it is embarrassing that the name hasn't been changed yet. We don't buy anything with that logo on it, yet it never dawned on me to say something to others who are wearing it. I wonder what this says about me?

Good for you, OP!

I think we have a Kong way to come on the football team name, most people have so much cognitive dissonance around it that it simply does not occur to them that it is truly offensive. You wouldn't let a kid walk around with a swatika on his shirt in your home - but were not that far yet as a society. To wit, holocaust museum, yet no museum about our own genocides against Africans and American Indians. Country is just in denial as PP's demonstrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It has been interesting to read through all the responses! Not at all surprised it turned into name-calling.

I'm going to keep correcting my sons. I'll also correct other children who use that language in my house. I'll just stick with "Hey - we don't say this in our house." My house, my rules. If the other boys (or their parents) have problems with that, they can play somewhere else.

It did make me stop and think re: PP's comment about Redskins. As you can probably guess, I do dislike that term immensely... and I think it is embarrassing that the name hasn't been changed yet. We don't buy anything with that logo on it, yet it never dawned on me to say something to others who are wearing it. I wonder what this says about me?

It says that you have the sense and maturity to realize that you are not captain of the Morality Police and that reasonable people can disagree on this issue

A reasonable person and a racist can agree to disagree, I suppose.